Find out how popular the first name Ray has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ray by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ray is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Ray being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 333 male babies and 26 female babies born with the name Ray.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 26 baby girls were named Ray in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ray

The name Ray is a diminutive form of the name Raymond, which is of Germanic origin. The name Raymond is derived from the Germanic elements "ragin" meaning "advice" and "mund" meaning "protector." The name Ray emerged as a shortened form of Raymond during the Middle Ages.

In the early historical records, the name Raymond appeared as a personal name in France as early as the 8th century. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Raymond of Toulouse, a prominent figure in the First Crusade (1096-1099). He played a significant role in the successful siege of Antioch and the capture of Jerusalem.

Another notable bearer of the name Raymond was Raymond VII, the Count of Toulouse from 1222 to 1249. He was a key figure in the Albigensian Crusade, a military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church against the Cathars in southern France.

During the Renaissance period, the name Ray gained popularity as a shortened form of Raymond. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ray can be found in the works of the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. In his play "King Lear," one of the characters is named Ray.

In the 18th century, the name Ray was borne by notable individuals such as Ray Bassett (1736-1826), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament. Another notable figure was Ray Smith (1724-1804), an English architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London.

The 19th century saw the rise of several famous individuals with the name Ray, including Ray Stannard Baker (1870-1946), an American journalist and biographer who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work on Woodrow Wilson. Another notable figure was Ray Lyman Wilbur (1875-1949), an American politician who served as the United States Secretary of the Interior under President Calvin Coolidge.

In the 20th century, the name Ray gained further popularity, particularly in the United States. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Ray Charles (1930-2004), the legendary American singer and pianist known for his influential contributions to the genres of soul, rhythm and blues, and country music.

Other notable individuals with the name Ray include Ray Kroc (1902-1984), the businessman who transformed McDonald's into one of the world's largest fast-food chains, and Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), the acclaimed American author renowned for his works of science fiction and fantasy, including "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ray was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ray, please contact us.

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